Wilma Jean (Swopes) Smith

Memorial services for Wilma Smith, 87, of Portales will be held at 2:00 PM, Thurs., Mar. 31, 2022 at the University Baptist Church in Portales with her son, Rev Steve Smith along with other family members officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with all of her family members and her church family serving as honorary pallbearers.

Wilma Jean Smith was born Nov. 6, 1934 in Portales, to the home of Velda Marie (Alford) and Harrison Wesley Swopes, and died at her home in Portales on Mar. 21, 2022.  At the age of 8, Wilma became a Christian, and faithfully served her Lord throughout her lifetime.  She was a 1953 graduate of Portales High School.  Following graduation, she began a career in banking that would span more than 50 years.  Her first position was at the Fist National Bank in Portales, but through the years, she worked in banks in Carlsbad, Clovis and Melrose as well as Portales.  For a time she was the branch manager for New Mexico Bank and Trust in the Hilltop Shopping Center in Clovis.  Wilma “retired” several times, but would be asked to come back to work.  She was brought out of retirement to help establish the American Heritage Bank in Clovis.  Her final retirement came in the early 2000’s.

Wilma had a gift for hospitality.  She was an excellent cook, and always enjoyed entertaining in her home.  As an active member of her church, Wilma always found a place of service on the Kitchen Committee where she oversaw countless receptions and funeral dinners.  For the past many years, she was a member of the University Baptist Church where her son serves as pastor.

Wilma’s sweet disposition and open heart gained her many friends throughout her lifetime.  She will certainly be missed by many.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Kathy Smith of Portales and Karl and Melissa Smith of Sioux City, IA; five grandchildren, Jeremy and Ami Smith of Woodson, TX, Timothy Smith of Portales, Daryn Smith of Sioux City, IA, Valon and Sam Schwope of Hampton, VA and Marin Smith of Clovis; five great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Kaylee and Deacon Smith, Ataira Smith and Grayson Schwope; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Wesley “Dale” Swopes of El Paso, TX and Delbert "Wayne" and Nelva Swopes of Amarillo, TX; and a sister and brother-in-law, Winona Fay and Richard Dosh of Brainerd, MN; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her husband, Bill Smith who died Oct. 8, 2017.

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